Mobile device with rotatable keyboard
A mobile device is provided having a rotatable keyboard. The keyboard is attached to the mobile device and is rotatable in a single plane with respect to the device's housing between a first and second position. A plurality of keys are provided having first indicia in a first orientation relating to key functions in the first position and second indicia in a second orientation relating to key functions in the second position. The indicia are properly oriented with respect to the user in the first and second positions to display a telephone keypad and an alternate keyboard. The arrangement provides greater ergonomic comfort to a user when entering text. The mobile device can assign functions to each key based on a determined keyboard position and can include a weighted end piece to protect the rotatable keyboard from potential damage due to impact.
Latest Research In Motion Limited Patents:
- Aligning timing for direct communications
- MANAGING SHORT RANGE WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSIONS
- METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING NFC-CAPABLE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES
- IMAGING COVER FOR A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE
- MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE PROVIDING NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) UNLOCK AND TAG DATA CHANGE FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS
The present invention relates generally to mobile communication devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a keyboard arrangement for such mobile devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany mobile devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other handheld and wireless computing and communicating devices, currently perform numerous and complex functions. With the convergence of many such functions on a single mobile device, the majority of current mobile devices are either primarily telephone-centric, PDA-centric, or data device-centric. In other words, the design and form factor of the mobile device is defined largely by the primary functionality of the mobile device, as well as the mobile device's predecessor products.
The proliferation of services for mobile devices has spawned increased user desire for the ability to access such services on a single integrated device. Many voice-based services are designed for use with a telephone keypad and numeric entry, whereas many data-based services are designed for use with a QWERTY keyboard and text entry. As such, users with a device having a telephone keypad are made to compromise when using data-based services, and users with a device having a QWERTY keyboard are made to compromise when using voice-based services. Users want to use such services on a device that is easily held and carried, and having a form factor that facilitates ease of use when entering either text or numbers.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a mobile device that provides a key arrangement that allows a user to use provided services in a manner that provides greater ergonomic comfort to the user when entering text while generally retaining a desired form factor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn a first aspect, the present invention provides a mobile device comprising a housing and a keyboard attached to the housing for rotation between a first position and a second position generally in a single plane with respect to the housing, the keyboard having a plurality of keys, the keys having first indicia in a first orientation relating to key functions in the first position and second indicia in a second orientation relating to key functions in the second position, the first and second indicia being properly oriented with respect to the user in the first and second positions respectively to display a telephone keypad to the user in the first position and to display an alternate keyboard to the user in the second position.
In a further embodiment, there is provided a keyboard for use with a mobile device having a housing. The keyboard comprises attachment means for attaching the keyboard to the housing for rotation between a first position and a second position generally in a single plane with respect to the housing; and a plurality of keys, the keys having first indicia in a first orientation relating to the first position and second indicia in a second orientation relating to the second position, the first and second indicia being properly oriented with respect to the user in the first and second positions respectively to display a telephone keypad to the user in the first position and to display an alternate keyboard to the user in the second position.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
Generally, the present invention provides a mobile device having a rotatable keyboard. The keyboard is attached to the mobile device and is rotatable in a single plane with respect to the device's housing between a first and second position. A plurality of keys are provided having first indicia in a first orientation relating to key functions in the first position and second indicia in a second orientation relating to key functions in the second position. The indicia are properly oriented with respect to the user in the first and second positions to display a telephone keypad and an alternate keyboard. The arrangement provides greater ergonomic comfort to a user when entering text. The mobile device can assign functions to each key based on a determined keyboard position and can include a weighted end piece to protect the rotatable keyboard from potential damage due to impact.
Previous attempts to integrate both a telephone keypad and a QWERTY keyboard in a mobile device have either made the QWERTY keyboard too cramped for use, or the width of the keyboard too big for the normal phone market.
A mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a keyboard 100 having a plurality of keys 102. As shown in
The keyboard 100 is attached to the housing of the mobile device for rotation between a first position and a second position generally in a single plane with respect to the housing. In this particular example, the plane of rotation is the same plane as the mobile device's display. This will be described in further detail with respect to
Although the keys 102 are shown with a particular shape in
Those keys 102 are used for different functions depending on the position of the keyboard. For instance, in
The ability of each of the keys 102 to have different functions depending on the position of the keyboard is achieved in response to rotation of the keyboard. However, this can be accomplished using hardware and/or software in many different ways. Many of these ways are known to those of skill in the art. For instance, a number of predictive text entry algorithms and arrangements are well known, as well as the repeated activation of the same key to achieve different key functions. Additionally, a dedicated key can be provided so that the user can toggle between the key functionalities of the keys, such as key 102C, or to force the use of the auxiliary keyboard functionality, such as key 102D.
As shown in
In
A mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes means for determining the position of the keyboard. For instance, the keyboard and the mobile device can have an electrical contact arrangement such that the position of the keyboard can be easily determined.
Using the means for determining the position of the keyboard, the mobile device is able to assign a particular functionality to each key when it is activated based on the position of the keyboard. The mobile device's processor, memory and a switch can co-operate to make the determination with respect to keyboard position.
A mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention advantageously modifies the user interface based on the keyboard position. For example, the mobile device can display a user interface including telephone-related applications, or functions, in response to a determination that the keyboard is in the telephone keypad position. Similarly, the mobile device can display a user interface including data-related applications, or functions, in response to a determination that the keyboard is in the alternate keyboard position.
Based on the determined keyboard position, the keys can be assigned a particular key functionality (or functionalities). For example, the key 102A is assigned the key functionalities relating to inputting the letters “K” and “L” when it is determined that the keyboard is in an alternate keyboard position, such as in
A key such as key 102C, shown in
The mobile device can also be provided with one or more detents, posts or other rotation-limiting means, or locking mechanism (not shown in the figures). Such a locking mechanism limits the rotation of the keyboard between the two desired positions and in the desired direction of rotation, as well as to maintain the keyboard in such a position.
Of course, other arrangements for determining the position of the keyboard can be used. For instance, the electrical contacts or switches can be placed in different locations in the mobile device. Also, other types of contacts can alternatively be used. The mobile device can be programmed such that each key, or set of keys, has a default functionality setting when the keyboard is in an intermediate position between the first and second positions. This default setting can be based on the previous position of the keyboard. For example, if the keyboard was last in the alternate keyboard position and is now in between the two positions, the key functionality is assigned to the auxiliary keyboard functionality. The mobile device can alternatively be programmed so as to only accept key input when the keyboard is in one of the two defined positions, and to disable the keys when the keyboard is in between the defined positions.
The layout and arrangement of keys on the keyboard can be varied, while still providing similar functionality in accordance with the scope of the present invention. For example,
The keyboard arrangement shown in
Many users depend on their mobile device for critical access to information and services. As such, users often want to protect the mobile device from inadvertent damage. In
With the mobile device shown in
Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile device having a keyboard rotatable between a telephone keypad position and an alternate keyboard position generally in a single plane with respect to the device's housing. The arrangement provides greater ergonomic comfort to a user when entering text. The mobile device can assign functions to each key based on a determined keyboard position and can include a weighted end piece to protect the rotatable keyboard from potential damage due to impact.
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A mobile device comprising:
- a housing; and
- a keyboard attached to the housing for rotation between a first position and a second position generally in a single plane with respect to the housing, the keyboard having a plurality of keys, the keys having first indicia in a first orientation relating to key functions in the first position and second indicia in a second orientation relating to key functions in the second position, the first and second indicia being properly oriented with respect to the user in the first and second positions respectively to display a telephone keypad to the user in the first position and to display an alternate keyboard to the user in the second position.
2. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising at least one switch for determining the position of the keyboard.
3. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising means for assigning a key function to a key based on a determined keyboard position.
4. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising means for modifying a displayed user interface based on a determined keyboard position.
5. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism for securing the keyboard in a desired position.
6. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a weighted end piece provided below the keyboard to minimize potential damage thereto.
7. A keyboard for use with a mobile device having a housing, comprising:
- attachment means for attaching the keyboard to the housing for rotation between a first position and a second position generally in a single plane with respect to the housing; and
- a plurality of keys, the keys having first indicia in a first orientation relating to the first position and second indicia in a second orientation relating to the second position, the first and second indicia being properly oriented with respect to the user in the first and second positions respectively to display a telephone keypad to the user in the first position and to display an alternate keyboard to the user in the second position.
4029915 | June 14, 1977 | Ojima |
4221064 | September 9, 1980 | Sebastian |
4449839 | May 22, 1984 | Bleuer |
D278341 | April 9, 1985 | Scheid |
D293241 | December 15, 1987 | Wan et al. |
D312628 | December 4, 1990 | Yokoi et al. |
D313401 | January 1, 1991 | Tanabe |
D313413 | January 1, 1991 | Langton |
5059048 | October 22, 1991 | Sirkin |
5184830 | February 9, 1993 | Okada et al. |
5217295 | June 8, 1993 | Tortola et al. |
5288158 | February 22, 1994 | Matias |
5336001 | August 9, 1994 | Lichtenberg |
5337346 | August 9, 1994 | Uchikura |
5360280 | November 1, 1994 | Camacho et al. |
5367298 | November 22, 1994 | Axthelm |
D357253 | April 11, 1995 | Wong |
5410141 | April 25, 1995 | Koenck et al. |
5410333 | April 25, 1995 | Conway |
5426449 | June 20, 1995 | Danziger |
D359920 | July 4, 1995 | Sakamoto |
5436954 | July 25, 1995 | Nishiyama et al. |
5457454 | October 10, 1995 | Sugano |
D367043 | February 13, 1996 | Ross et al. |
5500643 | March 19, 1996 | Grant |
5543787 | August 6, 1996 | Karidis et al. |
5563631 | October 8, 1996 | Masunaga |
5575576 | November 19, 1996 | Roysden, Jr. |
5600790 | February 4, 1997 | Barnstijn et al. |
5606712 | February 25, 1997 | Hidaka |
5611031 | March 11, 1997 | Hertzfeld et al. |
D381021 | July 15, 1997 | Williams et al. |
5659307 | August 19, 1997 | Karidis et al. |
5661605 | August 26, 1997 | Conway |
D383756 | September 16, 1997 | Henderson et al. |
5672108 | September 30, 1997 | Lam et al. |
D386497 | November 18, 1997 | Huslig et al. |
5689253 | November 18, 1997 | Hargreaves et al. |
D390509 | February 10, 1998 | Antzinas et al. |
5737394 | April 7, 1998 | Anderson et al. |
5786776 | July 28, 1998 | Kisaichi et al. |
D397369 | August 25, 1998 | Rissman |
D397728 | September 1, 1998 | Yuen et al. |
D399537 | October 13, 1998 | Chi et al. |
5818437 | October 6, 1998 | Grover et al. |
5825353 | October 20, 1998 | Will |
5827082 | October 27, 1998 | Laine |
D402572 | December 15, 1998 | Han |
D403362 | December 29, 1998 | Fai |
5861821 | January 19, 1999 | Kato et al. |
5893798 | April 13, 1999 | Stambolic et al. |
5915228 | June 22, 1999 | Kunihiro et al. |
5920308 | July 6, 1999 | Kim |
5931873 | August 3, 1999 | Cisar |
5963197 | October 5, 1999 | Bacon et al. |
5974238 | October 26, 1999 | Chase, Jr. |
D416256 | November 9, 1999 | Griffin et al. |
5982520 | November 9, 1999 | Weiser et al. |
5995026 | November 30, 1999 | Sellers |
6005496 | December 21, 1999 | Hargreaves et al. |
6006351 | December 21, 1999 | Peretz et al. |
6009333 | December 28, 1999 | Chaco |
6014429 | January 11, 2000 | LaPorta et al. |
6014573 | January 11, 2000 | Lehtonen et al. |
D420351 | February 8, 2000 | Waldner |
6023779 | February 8, 2000 | Fullam et al. |
6047047 | April 4, 2000 | Aldridge et al. |
6047196 | April 4, 2000 | Makela et al. |
6049796 | April 11, 2000 | Siitonen et al. |
6052070 | April 18, 2000 | Kivela et al. |
6084576 | July 4, 2000 | Leu et al. |
6091956 | July 18, 2000 | Hollenberg |
6094197 | July 25, 2000 | Buxton et al. |
6102594 | August 15, 2000 | Strom |
6103979 | August 15, 2000 | Motoyama et al. |
6107997 | August 22, 2000 | Ure |
D432511 | October 24, 2000 | Eckholm |
D433017 | October 31, 2000 | Martinez |
D433460 | November 7, 2000 | Griffin et al. |
6148261 | November 14, 2000 | Obradovich et al. |
6157323 | December 5, 2000 | Tso et al. |
D436591 | January 23, 2001 | Abston et al. |
6212412 | April 3, 2001 | Rogers et al. |
D441733 | May 8, 2001 | Do et al. |
6243789 | June 5, 2001 | Hasbun et al. |
6278442 | August 21, 2001 | Griffin et al. |
6295052 | September 25, 2001 | Kato et al. |
6297795 | October 2, 2001 | Kato et al. |
6304261 | October 16, 2001 | Shields et al. |
6304431 | October 16, 2001 | Kim |
6310609 | October 30, 2001 | Morgenthaler |
D451079 | November 27, 2001 | Ali |
D454349 | March 12, 2002 | Makidera et al. |
D454849 | March 26, 2002 | Eckholm |
6356258 | March 12, 2002 | Kato et al. |
6374277 | April 16, 2002 | Vong et al. |
D456794 | May 7, 2002 | Laverick et al. |
6385463 | May 7, 2002 | Lieberman et al. |
6396482 | May 28, 2002 | Griffin et al. |
D458239 | June 4, 2002 | Shim et al. |
D459327 | June 25, 2002 | Ali |
D460068 | July 9, 2002 | Lanzaro et al. |
D460493 | July 16, 2002 | Griffin et al. |
D461803 | August 20, 2002 | Griffin et al. |
6452588 | September 17, 2002 | Griffin et al. |
D464995 | October 29, 2002 | Griffin et al. |
6459968 | October 1, 2002 | Kochie |
6489950 | December 3, 2002 | Griffin et al. |
6507336 | January 14, 2003 | Lunsford |
D472225 | March 25, 2003 | Griffin |
6535749 | March 18, 2003 | Iwata et al. |
6538651 | March 25, 2003 | Haymann et al. |
D472551 | April 1, 2003 | Griffin |
D473226 | April 15, 2003 | Griffin |
D476985 | July 8, 2003 | Griffin |
D478585 | August 19, 2003 | Griffin |
6611254 | August 26, 2003 | Griffin et al. |
D479233 | September 2, 2003 | Griffin |
D480722 | October 14, 2003 | Griffin |
6630924 | October 7, 2003 | Peck |
6647367 | November 11, 2003 | McArthur et al. |
6658272 | December 2, 2003 | Lenchik et al. |
6661404 | December 9, 2003 | Sirola et al. |
6704007 | March 9, 2004 | Clapper |
6731227 | May 4, 2004 | Horie |
20010044828 | November 22, 2001 | Kikinis |
20010048428 | December 6, 2001 | Ukita et al. |
20030044000 | March 6, 2003 | Kfoury et al. |
20040057769 | March 25, 2004 | Ward et al. |
0267801 | May 1988 | EP |
0278169 | August 1988 | EP |
0538020 | April 1993 | EP |
0685801 | December 1995 | EP |
0732646 | September 1996 | EP |
0760291 | March 1997 | EP |
1143327 | October 2001 | EP |
9833111 | July 1998 | WO |
9937025 | July 1999 | WO |
0030381 | May 2000 | WO |
0038041 | June 2000 | WO |
0074240 | December 2000 | WO |
0150335 | July 2001 | WO |
- “Programmable Calculators: Hewlett-Packard HP-200LX,” Viktor T. Toth, copyr. 2001, 2002, from web page at www.rskey.org/hp2001x.htm.
- Anonymous: Triangular Toggle Keys for Touch-Tone Phones; IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 31, No. 1, Jun. 1, pp. 47-49, New York, US.
Type: Grant
Filed: May 14, 2003
Date of Patent: Sep 19, 2006
Patent Publication Number: 20040227733
Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Waterloo)
Inventors: Steven H. Fyke (Fort Erie), Jason T. Griffin (Waterloo), Zane K. Moi (Kitchener)
Primary Examiner: Bipin Shalwala
Assistant Examiner: Nitin Patel
Attorney: Novak Druce & Quigg, LLP
Application Number: 10/437,626
International Classification: G09G 5/00 (20060101);